Campaign Finance

[Reign]

I'm not sure about the campaign finance laws in Kansas, but I'm pretty sure that they would not allow the contribution of any single individual or corporation to be in an amount that could even potentially swing the entire election.

Here in Massachusetts, the limit is $500 in a single year by an individual.

[Shiver]

*sigh* once again Smallville violates reality.

Thanks for the info.

[smallvillefan26]

I was also wondering: if JK is "neck in neck" with Lex, where are the donations from supporters? I mean, that's how political races usually go, isn't it? People give money to those they support. The only way I can get around this is: Perhaps JK is pulling in the farming community's support and they may not be as wealthy as Lex's supporters. Or, I guess it is possible that JK's campaign money, including donations, has already been spent, considering he started with less than Lex anyway.

[Reign]

It's possible that even without a comparable war chest, Jonathan can be neck and neck with Lex at this point in the election. The polls are only a rough estimate of the political climate in the district anyway.

My guess is that Jonathan garners most of his support from unions and the working class, who don't have as much to contribute. Rather, as alluded to by Jonathan's ex-campaign manager who he fired at the beginning of the episode, Lex gets much of his support from wealthy corporations... and probably business and political science students who aren't afraid to step on people on their way up (as seen in this episode, Lex could be a sort of idyllic idol to some)... I think it would be difficult for Jonathan to pull in the younger vote.

In any case, the main point of my post is to raise awareness that there are laws in place to limit the influence of wealthy individuals... it's not full-proof... but it is a check... Lionel's contribution in the form of a single check is just too blatant... Now, if he had brought an army of corporate partners to the table, then that become more plausible...

[Stephen Robinson]

It seems to me as if Lionel is offering the money not as a campaign contribution (otherwise he'd just submit it as per normal) but as a personal donation to Martha. There are no campaign finance laws against pulling a Bloomberg and funding your own campaign. The irony here is that this would make the Kent campaign more corrupt than Lex's.

I don't get the impression that Lex's sizable war chest is a result of individual donations. Lex can spend as much of his own money as he wishes. It's easy for Jonathan and Lex to be neck and neck at this point of the race and Lex to be outspending him by a large margin.

[ballofsteel]

I think that Jonathon did have a lot of money from donations or whatever but trying to match a billionaire is next to impossible.

At the end of the episode someone mentioned Lex doing lots more advertising or something and that's why they needed more money. It just shows whatever the Kents do Lex will just take it one step further...

[UpandAtom]

what i'm wondering is where Lionel got all the money to fund Jonathan's campaign. i don't think he's become head of LuthorCorp and I doubt Lex would give him that much.